What a spectacular beginning we have had! The school-wide enthusiasm has been palpable!
The beautiful tone of our beginning has been set by our Principal, Mrs. Renken. With her characteristic combination of reflection and energy, Mrs. Renken has been meeting lots of parents, engaging in grade-level teacher team meetings, launching student grade-level assemblies, and stewarding the school in her classic Sacred Heart manner: thoughtfully, lovingly and strongly secure of the direction and path.
Following Mrs. Renken’s lead, the teachers have been working hard to create that perfect balance of safe, nurturing, loving home and engaging place in which students are invited to try, to stretch, to grow, and to courageously delve into something new. Students are learning the new year’s routines and procedures, learning about each other, learning new expectations, learning about their teachers, and becoming poised to learn a lot about themselves!
Along with the joy of launching a new academic year, we also had the joy of a very exciting Shrine visit on Monday. I share it with you because the visit reminds us that our life of love and learning at this Academy is connected to a much larger network of relationships. Two relatives of Saints (St. Louis and St. Philippine Duchesne), two Bishops (Archbishop Thierry Jordan and Bishop Edward Rice), and two Royals (Prince Louis de Bourbon and his wife, Princess Margaret) were among our visitors on the City of St. Louis’ namesake’s 800th birthday.
It just so happens that the Cathedral where King Louis IX was crowned King is the Cathedral in Reims, France, where Archbishop Jordan serves. He is a descendant of a cousin of Philippine Duchesne. Photos of their visit, including photos of our Fourth Class students greeting some of our guests, are shown below and on our website.
I look forward with delight to this year of love and learning, balancing the blessing of the beings before us with our invitations to have them become their best selves. This is my theme for the year, BALANCING BEING and BECOMING. To balance both is to educate with that perfect, artful combination which marks us with the stamp of the holy and wise educators in whose footsteps we walk!
Blessings on these first days of a new academic year,
Maureen Glavin, rscj
